Relaxation Therapy for Depression
Relaxation therapy consists of techniques primarily aimed at decreasing physical and mental tensions. These include muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, autogenic training, guided imagery, meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, Zen meditation, yoga, and other therapies involving mind and body. While not normally used as an exclusive treatment for depression, relaxation techniques, as many studies suggest, may be as effective as antidepressants. Combination treatment (i.e., relaxation therapy with antidepressant medication) may be more effective at relieving depression than are antidepressants alone. Scientists believe that these relaxation therapies reduce depression by distracting the mind from negative thoughts, improving mental focus, promoting a sense of mastery and self-control, and by decreasing sympathetic nervous system activity (responsible for increasing heart rate and metabolism).
